Revised telecom bill protects private property rights while supporting expansion of digital infrastructure
ISLAMABAD: Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has clarified that the consent of property owners will remain mandatory before any telecommunications infrastructure can be installed on private land, addressing concerns over the proposed amendments to Pakistan’s telecom laws.
Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja in Islamabad, Tarar said the revised draft of The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill explicitly requires the owner’s consent before any right-of-way can be granted over private property.
Revised Bill Safeguards Property Rights
The law minister said the updated draft provides clearer definitions of key terms, including right-of-way, above-ground and underground infrastructure, and the installation of telecommunications equipment to remove ambiguity in the proposed legislation.
He noted that the earlier version of the bill had been passed by the National Assembly with six amendments. However, concerns raised by the Senate Standing Committee prompted the government to revise the draft to address issues related to property rights and implementation.
Government Pushes Digital Connectivity
Speaking at the same press conference, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said amendments to the Pakistan Telecommunication Act are essential to meet the country’s rapidly growing demand for digital connectivity.
She said Pakistan’s data consumption has increased by around 25% over the past two years, underscoring the need to expand spectrum capacity and strengthen telecommunications infrastructure.
According to the minister, spectrum availability has increased from 274 MHz to around 750 MHz following the country’s largest-ever spectrum auction. She added that the planned rollout of 5G services will require substantial investment in fibre-optic networks, telecom towers and other supporting infrastructure.
Fibre Expansion Planned
Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan currently has fewer than three million fibre-to-the-home connections despite a population of approximately 240 million.
The government aims to increase that number to 10 million homes within the next three years as part of its broader digital transformation strategy.
Balancing Connectivity and Property Rights
Responding to public concerns over the proposed right-of-way provisions, the IT minister reiterated that expanding internet connectivity remains a key priority for the government.
She assured citizens that efforts to modernise Pakistan’s telecommunications infrastructure would not come at the expense of fundamental private property rights, reaffirming that owner consent will remain a mandatory requirement under the revised legislation.